I think someone tried to steal my dog on Sunday

[Tobra]

I think someone tried to steal my dog on Sunday. My wife and I went over to my daughter's house to babysit from about 1400 to 1930. It was a nice day, so we left him outside. She left about 20 minutes before I left at 2000. When I got home, she asked me if I tied a rope around the dog's collar, which I of course did not.

Apparently, he had about a foot and a half of rope with a loop in one end, and the collar passed through the loop, like a short leash. He is much less skittish than he was when we got him a year ago, and is pretty friendly if he is not protecting one of us. I figure they coaxed him to the wrought iron fence and got the rope on him, but could not get him over the fence. Did not see any fingers or blood out there either.

I can't think of any other reason why someone would put a rope on him, unless it is to lead him off. He is a beauty, and has as sweet a disposition as any dog I ever had, so I could see someone wanting to take him. Guess he does not get to stay out when we are not home anymore. I think maybe some cameras, in case the taking the dog was a prelude to breaking into the house.

He looks like this.



Well, not just like that, that is from when we first got him. The hair on his flanks and back is all brown now, and is not falling out anymore, and he is about 15 pounds heavier. He looks more like this now. Wow, he really has filled out in a year.

[Rikao4]

he's a handsome boy..
steal someone's dog..
actually quite common..
sell them to questionable research places..as most shelters don't..
the big one...
you post missing dog reward offered..
then you get the call...

get the camera..
and tell your boy to act like one of those terrible pits we hear about..
at least when some strangers try to snag his butt..

Rika

[pwd72s]

Those who sell dogs for research are heartless souls, trading in misery. Tobra, you were lucky. Hopefully this was just kids playing with a friendly dog?

[KFC911]

He's a beautiful dawg Toby! Probably quite socialized and generally friendly I assume. Maybe someone put the rope on him with bad intent...then he realized something wasn't "right" and let them know it . I've been around a few of them too...sweet, but solid muscle, and I wouldn't want to get on their bad side either. Good luck and take precautuons!

[Tobra]

Not a chance he escaped. He does not even walk out an open gate, unless I call him. If he wanted out, I think he would just jump the fence, it is only 6' tall.

Couple cameras and an old computer to keep the images, maybe a webcam setup.

[KFC911]

Maybe a trail cam would suffice? I set mine on 90 second videos and also has audio...pretty cheap too. Video/audio are awesome...

[968rz]

If not to steal him perhaps they were trying to keep him at a distance while they tried to enter your house.

[Tobra]

Trail cam, good idea. I could set it up in the shed, pointing to the back of the house.

Maybe these guys came back

[wayner]

Selling a dog like that to a new owner is probably more lucrative than selling it for research.

What, a thousand bucks or more with papers?
How much less without papers?

Worth alot more than the average bicycle stolen out of a garden shed.

Some people are just scum.

[2porscheguy]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Those who sell dogs for research are heartless souls, trading in misery. Tobra, you were lucky. Hopefully this was just kids playing with a friendly dog?

OR, worse yet, many dogs are stolen and used as training bait for dog fighting rings!!.....just AWFUL to think about but it has happened in central BC. When we travel via the TransCanada Highway through BC to our summer place, I never leave my dog out of sight when stopping for fuel, lunch, code yellow, etc.

Yes, there's some real low life scum out there guys! Treat your best friend like your first born!

[cashflyer]

A few years back, somebody stole our GSD.
Then sold her on Craigslist for $200.

"New owner" contacted me when his vet found that the dog was chipped.

Even though the "new owner" had contact info on the guy who sold her, Police said there was nothing they could do.

[Baz]

Whew...that was a close one Tob.....not trying to lecture you but I never let either of my 2 girls out of my sight ever when they are outdoors.

In my opinion, your breed is similar to many I have seen with urban hood types....the kind who think nothing of stealing property from anyone else no matter who it is or what it is. My guess is they made the attempt and then failed due to poor planning and/or execution.

Glad he is safe.....belly rubs from my 2 girls!

[Bill Douglas]

Gansters use stolen dogs for bait/practice in dog fight circles. They get their pitbulls to maul them. Keep a close eye on the dog and Probably not a good idea to leave her outside.

[GH85Carrera]

The friend of a friend story.....

A recently married couple had two dogs. The wife's dog was a high dollar little yappy dog. The guy was a cop that had his retired police dog as his pet. The dogs became friends quickly. They came home to find the police dog had blood around his mouth and a patch of denim he was chewing on. The neighbors said they heard screaming and looked over the fence and some low life was trying to climb the fence with the little dog but the police dog was not letting that happen. He had a firm grip on the thief's leg. He said the guy dropped the little dog to use both hands to climb the fence and the German Shepard let go of the thief and went to check his new buddy. The bad guy limped off. The neighbor got the tag of the bad guy and the owners cop friends were looking for him. The could not arrest him for anything but they made sure he got lots of tickets and lost his driver's license. They are just waiting for him to drive without a license so he can spend some time in jail.

Most likely it is just an urban legend, but dang I hope it is true.

[Tobra]

More like there was nothing they were willing to do. Theft is theft, selling stolen property is still a crime. If I had the contact info on the guy that sold the dog to them, I would have to go pay them a visit.

I am thinking they were after the dog primarily, but maybe it was a prelude to a burglary attempt. He is a big, stout dog that would be just the ticket as a bait dog, wrong temperament to be a fighter.

If they trying to tie him to the fence, must have missed the sign that says we have an alarm. Will pick up a bigger one and post it out there too.

[Rikao4]

there are youtube vid's of owners sitting at home...
car stops..snatch ..and their gone..
the little yappers are prized..
as their owners offer & pay big rewards..
sign in my hood currently..
1K reward for a Vizla pup..

Rika

[rusnak]

Beautiful pup, Doc. I also love the story about you giving him a new home.

I would love to set fire to a dog fight house and shoot everyone who comes out.

[RKDinOKC]

The house across the street from my old house was bought by some flippers. They had jobs in town and worked on the house during the week, then went to the country home for the weekends. They left two dobermans in the house while they were away.

One Sunday evening there was a ruckus with a bunch of police cars. I went to see what was going on. Seems that sometime Saturday a guy had broken into the house and put a bunch of stuff in a pillowcase. Evidently the dogs acted very friendly Until he tried to leave with the loot. They then turned on him and chased him into and cornered him in one of the bedrooms. The dogs took turns keeping him in the corner until the owner's got back Sunday evening.

Was there when the police brought the guy out of the house. He was very glad to see the cops. He had both pissed and pooped himself. He kept commenting how dangerous those dog were and how they were real friendly until he tried to leave then they wouldn't let him go.

Never did ask if the dogs were trained. They seemed like well mannered good pets when I saw the owners out playing with and walking them. Assume the couple were professional flippers and the dogs were their security.

[strupgolf]

Did they or did they not take your dog. You said "they tried". What is it?

[Otter74]

When I was a kid, our first dog was stolen. My dad asked around with the right people and eventually found out that it was taken by one of the police that was in the mini-station down the street. Not much to be done about that one!